ESCONDIDO  A small Catholic university focused on business, film and animation wants to take over nearly an entire block in downtown Escondido for a campus that could eventually include dormitories, real estate brokers said this week.

The proposal could enliven downtown with an infusion of people, and it could help the city fill two conspicuous longtime vacancies: the Mingei International Museum at Maple Street and Grand Avenue, and H. Johnson Furniture at Broadway and Second Avenue.

But the proposal faces hurdles. Downtown zoning rules prohibit schools on the first floor of Grand. And brokers involved in the negotiations said the school, John Paul the Great Catholic University in Mira Mesa, has had trouble finalizing deals for the downtown properties it wants.

Mayor Sam Abed said this week that he was upbeat about the proposal as a short-term idea for downtown. He said the university’s focus on film and entertainment could create synergy with the nearby California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

But he said the city’s long-term goals for the area are still focused on shops and restaurants.

“It’s an exciting idea that we’re still exploring,” Abed said. “There is a new trend of bringing kids with disposable income into downtowns. And we are open-minded about anything that will add to the vibrancy there.”

Abed said, however, it was crucial that classrooms not face Grand. “We need some sort of interactive entertainment venue in the front,” he said.

Councilwoman Olga Diaz, who ran a coffeehouse two blocks from the Mingei from 2002 to 2010, agreed. “Downtown is supposed to be for businesses, so I can’t say I’m excited about this,” she said.

The 24,000-square-foot Mingei building, the former site of a JC Penney, was vacant for years before the museum opened in 2003. The museum closed to visitors in 2010, but Mingei officials have continued to keep its display windows filled so the building won’t look abandoned.

The 31,000-square-foot H. Johnson building, the former site of a Sears, takes up much of the city block where the Mingei is located. The building has been vacant since 2007.

Abed said he views the university’s proposal as an “interim use.” He said requiring a conditional use permit could give the city power to replace the university at some point.

But the school, founded in 2006, has a master plan that calls for establishing a permanent campus by assembling office and industrial buildings in an urban area.

The plan also calls for eventually creating a media industry cluster around the school, and establishing dormitories for students.

The university’s campus in Mira Mesa, off Interstate 15 just south of Edwards Cinemas, has student housing a couple of miles away in Scripps Ranch.

According to its website, the university had about 140 students last year, but the site says school officials hope to increase that number to about 1,200 in the next few years.

Don Zech, a broker handling negotiations between the university and the Mingei for CDC commercial real estate, said the school is also interested in multiple properties nearby. But he said nothing has been finalized.

Tom Crowley, a broker handling the H. Johnson site for Hanson Commercial real estate, said his clients have been considering the university’s proposal. But he also said they’re aware that the university is looking at other options.

Derry Connolly, president of the university, declined to comment this week on any of the negotiations.

The university’s proposal suffered a setback Tuesday night when Escondido’s Planning Commission voted 3-2 against a recommendation by city planning staffers to allow schools on the first floor of Grand Avenue.

Commission Chairman Jeff Weber said Thursday that he voted against the proposal for three reasons: It wasn’t presented to downtown merchants; it could worsen parking; and other proposals might be on the horizon.

“I’m hoping there will be other opportunities as the economy improves,” he said.